Waiter
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -eɪtə(ɹ)
Origin
Late 14th century, "attendant, watchman," agent noun from the verb wait. Sense of "servant who waits at tables" is from late 15th century, originally in reference to household servants; in reference to inns, eating houses, etc., it is attested from 1660s. Feminine form waitress first recorded 1834.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/waiter?s=t
Noun
waiter
(plural waiters)- A male or sometimes female attendant who serves customers in a restaurant, café or similar.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 2, She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, …; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, …—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 5, A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ … ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’ - Waiter! There's a fly in my soup.
- literally Someone who waits for somebody or something; a person who is waiting.
- (obsolete) A vessel or tray on which something is carried, as dishes, etc.; a salver.